Lucknow: Congress MP Rahul Gandhi faced hostile college girl students on the first day of his two-day visit to his parliamentary constituency Amethi on Thursday.

Angry over the lack of basic amenities in their college, scores of girls from the Rajkiya Balika Inter College blocked the road which Gandhi was to take on his way to inaugurate a bank branch.

When the local intelligence unit alerted the Special Protection Group (SPG), Gandhi's cavalcade was diverted to another route. The students then raised anti-Rahul Gandhi slogans and slammed him for not meeting them and listening to their problems.

Later, at a "Jila Satarkta and Nigrani" meeting, Gandhi aired his displeasure over the tardy progress in the implementation of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MNREGA) as well as the state of roads in the town. The Congress general secretary told officials at the meeting that the condition of roads was pathetic and sought their immediate intervention to improve their condition.

When problems in the implemntation of MNREGA were brought to his notice, he asked officials to rectify the mistakes and ensure that the benefits of the flagship scheme of the UPA reached the right people.

After the three-hour meeting, the Congress leader inaugurated a branch of UCO bank and distributed the Kisan Credit Card to 100 farmers.

While the media hoped that Gandhi would speak on the recent attacks on him by opposition parties, Gandhi spoke only on the theme of the events he attended.

He later retired for the day at the Munshiganj guest house. He will attend a bicycle distribution function for the specially challenged at Parsedpur on Friday and address party workers before returning to New Delhi, a Congress leader said.